It is disheartening to note that Filipino politicians pound on the peace panels never to go outside the framework of the Constitution like it is the most treasonous and blasphemous thing to do. Yet, both leaders of the Senate and Congress recently announced that they are open to Charter change in order to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.
Why can these political leaders cater to corporate interests and foreign investments while stubbornly insist that the Moros never ever go out of the same Constitution they want to change anyway? Isn’t this the height of arrogance and double standard? Isn’t this a clear case of tyranny of the majority?
It is high time to make a stand in the peace process. Insofar as the Bangsamoro question is concerned, there can be no more pretension for neutrality. Staying neutral over the historical injustices committed against the native inhabitants of Mindanao is a tacit approval to perpetuate oppression.
After 14 long years of painstaking government-MILF peace negotiations, peace advocacy demands that we take a stand. Let us finally put a closure to the armed conflict by supporting a political solution that is acceptable to the Bangsamoro people. The Christian majority of this country must take the high moral ground by giving back to the Bangsamoro people their long-lost freedom and homeland.
Peace advocacy is not just about seminars, concerts or never-ending conferences and meetings which cost millions of money. These are not wrong per se. These are in fact very helpful in raising the awareness of people. But we should not get stuck into the merry-go-round of peace events which do not connect with the political solutions. There is a higher need to elevate the advocacy by talking about the political options and extending the hand of solidarity to the Moro people who are clamoring for a government of their own; a “substate” which can be a formula for Filipinos and Moros to live together.
—SR. MARIA NOEL ARNOLD,
c/o jsmulay@yahoo.com.ph